#62. Back from Vacation – A Summer of Contrasts

But alongside beauty came fatigue and reminders of my limits. In the midst of it all, I had to say goodbye to a photo friend and my beloved aunt. A farewell filled with both tears and laughter. It was a gentle reminder that grief and gratitude often live side by side.

When I returned home, I realized I wasn’t fully recharged. What I carried instead was something deeper: gratitude. Gratitude for contrasts, for vast landscapes, and for quiet moments that invite reflection.

Healing Through the Lens

This experience deepened my conviction that nature photography is not about technical perfection. It is about presence. When I hold my camera, I am listening: to the light, the silence, and the subtle rhythm of the earth.

Through this practice, I developed the EARTH method, a way of approaching photography where experience, attention, reflection, trust, and healing take center stage. Photography becomes more than image-making; it becomes a dialogue between inner and outer landscapes.

When someone asked whether Healing Nature Photography is about healing people or the Earth, I realized the answer is both. Healing happens as we reconnect with nature, and in turn we find strength to care for the world that sustains us.

Words That Root Me

During this summer, I was reminded of the words of Faith Owei: “Nanda brings something unique: a business rooted in healing, connection, and the quiet strength of nature.” Her reflection encouraged me to embrace the slow path, to grow from the inside out, and to trust that stillness is a powerful offering.

Seeds for the Future

This summer also brought professional highlights. My work was selected for the National Geographic outdoor exhibition at Ouwehands Zoo. I co-organized the NPOTY jury days and connected with inspiring talent. Even small personal steps, like returning to the gym, felt grounding.

But more than milestones, it was the unplanned moments that carried the deepest lessons. Nature reminded me that even amid grief, fatigue, or uncertainty, there is beauty, connection, and resilience. That quiet embrace is what I hope to share through my work: images and stories that invite pause, wonder, and the sense that we belong to something greater.